How to Adjust the Governor on a Gas E-Z-Go Golf Cart

by Gus Stephens
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E-Z-Go gas-powered golf carts are equipped with 9-horsepower, 295 cc Robin engines. Designed entirely for use on golf course trails, E-Z-Go carts are not engineered for higher-speed on-road use and/or cornering. When maximum speed is reached, a ground speed governor in the rear axle acts in concert with a governor spring in the throttle linkage to alter the position of the carburetor throttle plate and prevent further acceleration. The function of the governor to control speed within factory preset limits may be affected by adjusting the governor spring. E-Z-Go does not recommend additional measures to alter the governor to permit speeds outside factory preset limits.

Step 1

Locate the governor arm mounted on top of the rear axle case underneath the cart. The action of the throttle cable attached to the governor arm is dampened by an adjustable governor spring mounted on a bracket adjacent to the governor arm.

Step 2

Loosen the adjusting locknut on the end of the governor spring. Rotate the locknut to expand or compress the spring until its length is 2 1/2 inches.

Step 3

Retighten the adjusting locknut.

Step 4

Road test the cart by timing it over a course of known length at full speed to verify that the governor is controlling the speed within factory specifications. A simple formula can be used to convert the results to mph: Divide 3,600 by the total time in seconds. Divide 5,280 by the total distance in feet. Divide the first result by the second result for the speed in mph.

Step 5

Check manufacturer's specifications for the maximum governed speed and adjust the governor spring locknut if necessary. Tightening the spring locknut increases maximum governed speed, while loosening the locknut decreases maximum governed speed.

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